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There's a lot of the Old West in New Mexico. Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy roamed its adobe villages, red rock mesas, and weathered arroyos. Even these hardened souls found themselves taken with this Southwestern paradise and had to be chased out. Little did they know that New Mexico would soon have another name: The Land of Enchantment. But it's more than a catchy tag line created by a tourist board. The air here is filled with the aroma of mesquite smoke and chilis as it wafts through the juniper trees. Native Americans still fashion art out of clay and rock, and artists come from around the world to paint its unique desert landscapes.

Whether you're a cowboy, a poet, or a cowboy poet, New Mexico is where you come to be inspired. Ride its trails, hike its forests of piqon and cedar, and unlock the secrets of this magical and ancient land. The dude ranches of New Mexico let you do it all from the convenience of one cozy spread.

Published: 29 Apr 2002 | Last Updated: 15 Sep 2010 Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication